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Les Reed

Good to see Les Reed coming to the fore a bit more now. He hadn't said a word until this week, and now he can't stop!! Dowie should use Reed's experience to help take the load off himself. I still think that Les is a star and is probably our best bet of avoiding relegation this year.

Comments

I feel some comfort in having Les Reed around, but it's Dowie's team and he must take ultimate responsibility.

Reed played a major role in his last stint at the club, that ended after the play-off final and he's one of the shrewdest coaches around. I hope that Dowie makes full use of it. I'd hate for Reed to leave to join Curb's or another club.

Les Reed was promoted to vice-chairman at Southampton last year as well as being head of football development since 2010 and contributed to producing the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke Shaw, Callum Chambers and James Ward-Prowse. He is now, however, being touted as becoming the technical director of the Premier League - responsible for overseeing youth development and maintaining good relations between the 20 clubs at executive level.

His work with Curbs was distinctly undermined by his somewhat disastrous period as manager. However, there is no doubt that he has had a very successful career as a coach and mentor. Some like Brian Clough are destined to manage. Others like his sidekick, Peter Taylor, are coaches pure and simple. Reed falls into the latter category.

I had a client years ago who's son was in our youth team (U16's) & they said he was an excellent coach and a lovely man. Always wish him well & just sorry that his very brief time as our manager didn't work out well - but then neither Dowie or Pardew could do much with that squad so probably not a lot he could do.

I'm sure Les is a very nice man, but I never understood why he gets credit for Curbs team's. He resigned a few months before the end of the season and was kept on until the end of the playoffs. That season was all about the last couple of months when we were unbeaten winning 9 out of 10. By that time he was being pushed to the sidelines and replaced by Peacock.

I'm sure Les is a very nice man, but I never understood why he gets credit for Curbs team's. He resigned a few months before the end of the season and was kept on until the end of the playoffs. That season was all about the last couple of months when we were unbeaten winning 9 out of 10. By that time he was being pushed to the sidelines and replaced by Peacock.

Iirc from curb’s own account Reed was instrumental that season and was gutted he had to leave more for health reasons than anything.

Les Reed's reputation has been slightly tarnished by Soton's recent struggles on the pitch, with the production line of top young players somewhat drying up, and their questionable recruitment

Which by the sounds of it coincides with reed’s promotion (taking a step back perhaps) and it falling apart. I think koeman leaving was really not something they had considered.

There's only so many a Club will find and produce and if the revolving door only goes one way the team will, ultimately, suffer. Imagine what sort of squad they would have now with these in it (how much sold for originally and where now):

I'm sure Les is a very nice man, but I never understood why he gets credit for Curbs team's. He resigned a few months before the end of the season and was kept on until the end of the playoffs. That season was all about the last couple of months when we were unbeaten winning 9 out of 10. By that time he was being pushed to the sidelines and replaced by Peacock.

Iirc from curb’s own account Reed was instrumental that season and was gutted he had to leave more for health reasons than anything.

OK but Curbs probably being polite if health reasons why did he move for a job at the FA?

Les Reed's reputation has been slightly tarnished by Soton's recent struggles on the pitch, with the production line of top young players somewhat drying up, and their questionable recruitment

Which by the sounds of it coincides with reed’s promotion (taking a step back perhaps) and it falling apart. I think koeman leaving was really not something they had considered.

There's only so many a Club will find and produce and if the revolving door only goes one way the team will, ultimately, suffer. Imagine what sort of squad they would have now with these in it (how much sold for originally and where now):

Les Reed's reputation has been slightly tarnished by Soton's recent struggles on the pitch, with the production line of top young players somewhat drying up, and their questionable recruitment

Which by the sounds of it coincides with reed’s promotion (taking a step back perhaps) and it falling apart. I think koeman leaving was really not something they had considered.

There's only so many a Club will find and produce and if the revolving door only goes one way the team will, ultimately, suffer. Imagine what sort of squad they would have now with these in it (how much sold for originally and where now):

I'm sure Les is a very nice man, but I never understood why he gets credit for Curbs team's. He resigned a few months before the end of the season and was kept on until the end of the playoffs. That season was all about the last couple of months when we were unbeaten winning 9 out of 10. By that time he was being pushed to the sidelines and replaced by Peacock.

Iirc from curb’s own account Reed was instrumental that season and was gutted he had to leave more for health reasons than anything.

OK but Curbs probably being polite if health reasons why did he move for a job at the FA?

FA jobs are pretty cushty, don’t have to travel every week like at a football club. A lot less day to day physically demanding work (standing in the cold shouting at footballers) and more of a desk job. Remember the bloke collapsed and very nearly died before leaving.

Les Reed's reputation has been slightly tarnished by Soton's recent struggles on the pitch, with the production line of top young players somewhat drying up, and their questionable recruitment

Which by the sounds of it coincides with reed’s promotion (taking a step back perhaps) and it falling apart. I think koeman leaving was really not something they had considered.

There's only so many a Club will find and produce and if the revolving door only goes one way the team will, ultimately, suffer. Imagine what sort of squad they would have now with these in it (how much sold for originally and where now):

Jay Rodriguez was a Burnley youth product who Southampton bought for quite a few million. I don’t think Southampton can really take credit for developing him, even if they did make a profit on this outlay.